GENERAL CODRINGTONsaid, he wished to ask the Secretary of State for War whether, in the offer of additional rank lately acknowledged as due to certain officers of the Land Transport Corps, it is made a condition that they should repay to the Treasury part of their full pay, issued to them in the years 1857 and 1858, for duty actually done with their Regiments in their present rank?
GENERAL PEELreplied, that several officers of the late Land Transport Corps, who were promoted by General Orders in the Crimea, pending the confirmation of Her Majesty, had, since the reduction of the corps on the 1st of April, 1857, been serving on full pay in a junior rank, and had now been offered the unattached rank to which they were promoted, from the date of the reduction of the corps, or should they prefer it, the option of remaining in their present position on full pay. It was quite impossible for these officers to draw both full and half pay, and, according to the strict rule of the service, those who accepted the superior unattached rank would have to pay hack the difference between the full pay they had been receiving and the half pay of the superior rank they accepted, in all cases where the full pay 1042 had been greater than the half pay; when less they would receive the difference. As, however, this might press hardly upon some persons, and materially influence their acceptance of the been now offered, he would consent to these officers retaining the full pay they had enjoyed, and direct the issue of the unattached pay from the date of their accepting the offer, the unattached rank bearing date from the reduction of the corps. The officers to whom the option was given would be required to make their selection at once, otherwise they would only be allowed half pay, under the conditions of the Royal Warrant now in force.